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It has been more than three decades that I've been a member of ASIFA and quite a few years serving as its Board member. During these years many things inside and outside ASIFA have changed such as: But the only thing that has NOT changed during this long period is that with the exception of Iran and Cuba, no other countries from Latin and South America, Africa and the Near and Middle East have joined ASIFA. WHY? Is our globe like a coin with only two sides? North America and Western Europe?!!! As far as I understand, the reason is not that in the above-named countries there are no animation activities, because quite often you may find animation studios with a long resume of animated film productions that exist in Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, etc. Therefore again I come to this question: WHY? Why don't they show up in ASIFA? Why does ASIFA have little or no communications with these nations? Certainly it is the choice of many of the animators from these nations. But there is another fact too: Had I not become a member of ASIFA and attended the 1971 Annecy festival, I would not have had the privilege of learning about this organization and subsequently introduce ASIFA and its activities to the Iranian Animators. While I was writing this article and thinking about the WHY questions, the BAM earthquake occurred and this article was left unfinished. The Earthquake brought so much sorrow and heartache to everyone's life. But despite such a catastrophe I witnessed the immediate and sincere response of 26 nations offering monetary and humanitarian help to those victims and their families who suffered in this horrible disaster. After observing such admirable solidarity, I asked myself would such international solidarity happen if an earthquake would happen to the animation world? The answer is: NO. Compare the situation of animation in Eastern Europe before and after 1991. Wasn't it an earthquake? But we never witnessed any kind of assistance or humanitarian aid to be paid to its victims, obviously, because of the difference between the nature of these two kinds of earthquakes. This makes the role of ASIFA more important. ASIFA should be strong enough to provide our colleagues around the world if not anything, but at least something. But lack of interest to join ASIFA, hence taking advantage of this universal NGO, returns to the yearly balance of the activities of the ASIFA Board in particular and of ASIFA members in general. It returns to the quality and the quantity of such acts. And what makes ASIFA continue on without so many of its potential members? Why is it that Egyptian, Turkish, Indonesian, Malaysian, Philippines, Mexican, and Brazilian animators, despite their talented artists, are not yet participating in their own family unity? Is it ASIFA's inability to attract them? Perhaps their animators are simply unaware of the existence of ASIFA? Or perhaps some other reasons that we are not aware of? CONCLUSION DOES ANIMATION NEED AN EARTHQUAKE TO BRING ANIMATORS TOGETHER? Who is going to answer this question? Who is going to bring those many nations into their own worldwide family? You? I? Or who? If you know an animator from those nations, do not delay. Invite him/her to join the club. Who knows? Perhaps there are many hands waving to touch a hand. If for any reason you cannot do it, send THE BOARD his/her/their address. The Board as your representative can do something. Noureddin Zarrinkelk president@asifa.net January 6, 2004 |
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